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      *New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush continues to deny that he and his family illegally accepted gifts, money and other benefits worth more than $100,000 from two marketing agents while attending the University of Southern California. "I'm not worried about any of these allegations or anything like that, because I know what the truth is, like I said from day one," Bush said after a Saints practice last week. "Once the smoke clears, everybody's going to see we did nothing wrong." Yahoo.com reported Thursday that Michael Michaels, a marketing agency investor who wanted to represent the Heisman Trophy winner, and current Bush marketing agent Mike Ornstein gave the athlete and his family gifts. The NCAA prohibits student-athletes and their families from receiving extra benefits from agents or their representatives. Any improper benefits could lead to NCAA sanctions against USC and retroactively cost Bush his college eligibility and Heisman Trophy.

       *The National Basketball Association is teaming with shoe manufacturers and college leaders to discuss the creation of a national academy for elite high school players, reports the Washington Post. Developed by Sonny Vaccaro, director of grass-roots basketball for Reebok, the plan would create a structured system to give players an education in academics and sports. According to the Post, several dozen ninth- to 12th-grade players would eat, sleep and train at an elite facility with buses taking teens to nearby high schools to ensure top academic training. Graduates would still have one year to play in college or overseas before they would be eligible for the NBA Draft.  During the season, two teams from the academy would play a U.S. nationwide schedule with some games on television. Individuals and corporate sponsors would foot the bill for the training academy.

*Five Duquesne basketball players were shot on campus early Sunday, leaving
at least one critically injured, after the teammates walked away from tried to calm a man who had reportedly caused a stir at a student union dance, officials said. Six to 12 shots were reportedly fired by the gunman. Sam Ashaolu (cousin of former Houston Rocket Hakeem Olajuwon) of Toronto, Stuard Baldonado of Colombia, and Kojo Mensah were all hospitalized and Shawn James of New York City and Aaron Jackson of Hartford, Conn. were treated and released.  What sparked the violence is unknown.  Duquesne University is a private Catholic university with nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students.